Amanda L. Steinhebel is a Radiation Detection and Imaging Scientist in the Physics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She works on the design, calibration, and deployment of radiation detection systems where she blends her background in particle physics, astrophysics, and silicon/semiconductor development. Previously, she was a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. She received her Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oregon in 2021 in fundamental high-energy physics and has earned a M.S. in Physics from the University of Oregon and B.A.s in Physics and Mathematics from the College of Wooster (Ohio).
Presentation Title:
Single Photon Sensing with Photon to Digital Converters (PDCs)
Presentation Abstract:
Single photon detection systems have a wide range of applications from quantum computers to communication to radiation detectors and fundamental physics experiments. Photon to Digital Converters (PDCs) are next-generation silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) which vertically integrate a sensing layer of Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs) with a custom CMOS active quenching circuit and processing electronics. This design enables individual-SPAD control, reducing system noise and deadtime and offering the potential for ~10 ps single-photon timing. The ‘fully digital’ philosophy avoids the analog-to-digital conversions used in SiPMs, decreasing power dissipation while supporting customizability. This talk will cover PDC design, current testing status, and the outlook for future systems utilizing the device.